To ask anyone in the NHS how day surgery lists are determined?

That’s because they just want you to be clean. If you’d not showered for a week you’d have all sorts of germs on you and be more likely to get a wound infection, so they want to make sure you’ve showered recently.

You really dont need to do anything just turn up clean and with an empty tummy and you will be grand and they will take it from their

They would have known if you needed them . You don't always need an MRSA swab it depends on the hospital trust policy. In my trust it's only if you've been admitted to a different hospital in a different trust in the last 12 months. Also I've read through the thread and if you suspect you have autism I'd reccomend talking it through with a gp to get a nhs diagnosis ( it's a long process but free) . I'm currently an inpatient and when I spoke to the nurses about it they've made adjustments for me .

I've had numerous days surgery operations ranging from the simple to the complex. I was always on the morning list, but for one (removing part of my meniscus) the operations before me all overran and I was eventually operated on about 3.30 pm. I've only ever once supposed to be first on the list but as soon as the anaesthetist saw the list I was moved to last because it was a "dirty operation " (Botox for an anal fissure) and it was easier to put me last so that there was longer to clean the operating theatre completely before the afternoon list. As far as I'm concerned there will be a million factors for them to consider and that's their job. If you're really worried about fasting that long, could you not change your habits for one day and eat later, even if it's just adding a slice of toast late in the evening?

Yes, with paeds and major surgery much more routine to be seen afterwards. Day surgery where I’ve had surgery and have worked it’s just not feasible for them to see everyone and get everything else done and there is the hope that you can be discharged quickly and then have a post-op follow up in clinic if needed.

Most of what you're worrying about you don't need to.

I had emergency surgery earlier this year. Started out a normal day, I washed, used deodorant, lotion, went for a walk and then started to feel in agonizing pain.

Within 2 hours of a doctor seeing me I was being taken into surgery that I had no idea I would be having when I woke up that day. They scraped my consent and I scrawled some papers as I was being wheeled away off my nut on drugs. I was kept waiting those two hours as I'd eaten multiple times that day, but it was still only 6 hours since my last meal at the point I went under. Id been drinking from a bottle of water whilst in the car being driven to hospital.

I tell you this for two reasons:

1. You don't need to be so worried about food and drink and wait from the previous afternoon. Have some toast before bed, sip water when you first wake up. Don't worry about showering and grooming just don't go overboard.

1. The surgeon who operated on me almost certainly was lined up to operate on someone else that day. But then I arrived, and without the surgery I had, on the day I had it, I would have died. Not could have died, would have died. I would be dead. That is the reality of hospitals, things move, plans change, priorities shift. I've had some absolutely terrible NHS experiences but the day they saved my life was insane in the best way and it really showed me that actually, for the things that are life or death, they are amazing. Sadly that is usually at the expense of being amazing at routine stuff. Id rather they be amazing at both, but id rather it be the way it is then the other way round.

Am sure that’d be fine!

Yeah I get it but it definitely won’t be your fault if there is an issue. They may well have decided they’re not necessary or just do them on the day. That’s much more likely. Try not to obsess over such a small detail, I know it’s hard. I agree it might be good to get stuck into a book or TV show or something to take your mind off it all for now. It will be fine!

Definitely the paeds surgeons would make more of an effort to come and speak to you afterwards! Different in adult life I think.

Thank you for this post. It was really needed. . Can I just say well done to everyone who works in the NHS who has to put up with complaints and crap about nothing. Be grateful you are getting the treatment you need and accept others may just have more urgent need. And I don’t work in NHS myself

You've done nothing wrong iv often had them the day of

Don't chew gum either i have no idea why but I was asked this before surgery once

You learn something new everyday

I think that’s pretty unlikely, if it was important for this procedure then pre-op would have arranged the swabs. Don’t stress over that, it will be fine.

Oh wow ! . So I used to be last on the lists for day surgery due to being"healthy" . Turns out bc of my pain condition I have an extremely high tolerance to Anaesthetics and painkillers . Anyway I've had 3 day surgeries and 2 I was last on the list - one I went down at 4pm. The last surgery I had was a follow on from a previous surgery with the same team as my previous one and because I'm given stronger and higher doses of pain relief and need longer in recovery I would go first . If you are that concerned around fasting for too long then you can get up before the nil by mouth time and have a snack but there's a reason why there's an order to a list .

Iv always been nhs and they've always done these things unless im on my period then they dont ask for the pregnancy test. But 9 times out of 10 I seem to be as stress seems to bring it on for me

Body lotion/facial moisturisers make it difficult to get any of the monitoring (ecg dots)/dressings to stick. Not a scooby why deodorant comes up…unless it’s armpit surgery that shouldn’t make a difference.

Ah ok that makes sense then, they must have done one or the other! I totally understand what you mean about non latex gloves as I’m a GP and the non latex ones just aren’t as good, especially the cheaper end ones (which of course is what the NHs likes us to have 🤣). But luckily I don’t have a lot of call for it in my work at least now we are past 2020! Can I ask as I’m thinking maybe you’re a surgeon, do you know what the sticky stuff is for surgical drapes? Because I came up in an awful clearly allergic rash (in a square pattern lol) to that after my op! So must be allergic to something in that too for goodness sake. I know I am allergic to Elastoplast but I did tell them that.

I can’t have nitrile gloves - only latex. If they use nitrile on me I have an allergic reaction - it’s even worse if the gloves are blue. Natural coloured latex gloves are all I can use

im also a nurse so can’t see patients who have a latex allergy

I work for 3 depts - all lists are mixed at my trust godchildren first